Gunfight rips through Cooper-Young; suspects still on the run

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A gunfight that started inside a Midtown convenience store spilled into the streets of Cooper-Young Thursday night, leaving behind bullet holes, rifle casings and shaken residents.

Memphis Police say two groups of young men encountered each other at the Pride Mart on Parkway, where gunfire erupted before the violence spread into nearby neighborhoods.

Residents near New York Street and Oliver Avenue said they heard a barrage of gunfire as suspects ran through the area.

“I was not prepared for the volume of gunfire that I heard,” said Cooper-Young resident Bob Nelson.

Nelson said he first noticed several young men running down the street before hearing what sounded like automatic gunfire about 50 feet from his home.

Investigators say heavily armed suspects exchanged gunfire across multiple blocks. Officers recovered rifle casings throughout the crime scene and found bullet damage at the gas station where the shooting began.

FOX13 is working to obtain surveillance video that appears to show the fast-moving gun battle.

One neighbor who asked not to be identified told FOX13 she watched several young men run up the street before seeing someone get out of a vehicle and begin firing at them.

The scale of the response also caught residents' attention.

“One of the officers indicated they recovered more than 30 rounds,” Nelson said.

Despite the intense gunfire, police have not reported any injuries.

More than a half-dozen suspects remain on the run as investigators work to identify everyone involved.

Anyone with information is urged to contact CrimeStoppers.

Police say those responsible showed no regard for customers, employees or families living nearby when the gunfire erupted in one of Memphis' most well-known neighborhoods.